Patent US4157559A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4157559A
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Coaxial nuclear radiation detector with deep junction and radial field gradient
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1977-01-31
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Granted: 1979-06-05
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Expires: 1997-01-31
Abstract
Abstract Germanium radiation detectors are manufactured by diffusing lithium into high purity p-type germanium. The diffusion is most readily accomplished from a lithium-lead-bismuth alloy at approximately 430° and is monitored by a quartz half cell containing a standard composition of this alloy. Detectors having n-type cores may be constructed by converting high purity p-type germanium to n-type by a lithium diffusion and subsequently diffusing some of the lithium back out through the surface to create a deep p-n junction. Coaxial germanium detectors comprising deep p-n junctions are produced by the lithium diffusion process.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert N. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/24; H; H10; H10F; H10F30/00; H10F30/20; H10F30/29; H10F30/292; H10F30/2925; H10P; H10P32/00; H10P32/10; H10P32/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A germanium radiation detector comprising: a hollow cylindrical germanium body having an inner region of one type conductivity, an outer region of opposite type conductivity and a p-n junction formed coaxially between said inner and said outer regions, said junction positioned so that the net excess of impurity atoms in said inner region is equal to the net excess of impurity atoms in said outer region; a more heavily doped region of one type conductivity extending over the inner surface of said body for providing electrical contact to said inner region; and a more heavily doped region of opposite type conductivity extending over the outer surface of said body for providing electrical contact to said outer region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A germanium radiation detector comprising: a hollow cylindrical germanium body having an inner region of one type conductivity, an outer region of opposite type conductivity and a p-n junction formed coaxially between said inner and said outer regions, said junction positioned so that the net excess of impurity atoms in said inner region is equal to the net excess of impurity atoms in said outer region; a more heavily doped region of one type conductivity extending over the inner surface of said body for providing electrical contact to said inner region; and a more heavily doped region of opposite type conductivity extending over the outer surface of said body for providing electrical contact to said outer region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein the radius of said junction is approximately 70 percent of the outside radius of said outer region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein said outer region comprises p-type germanium containing diffused lithium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The detector of claim 3 wherein said more heavily doped region of opposite conductivity comprises lithium doped germanium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein said hollow cylindrical body further comprises a hermispherical end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein said inner region comprises p-type germanium having an excess acceptor concentration of between approximately 10 10 .cm -3 and approximately 5×10 10 .cm -3 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The detector of claim 2 wherein said inner region comprises p-type germanium having an excess acceptor concentration of between approximately 10 10 .cm -3 and approximately 5×10 10 .cm -3 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The detector of claim 1 wherein the net concentration of activator impurities at points within said body is a smooth, monotonic function of the radius of said points.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A germanium radiation detector comprising: a hollow cylindrical region of n-type germanium; a cylindrical region of p-type germanium disposed around and coaxial with said region of n-type germanium whereby a p-n junction is formed between said p-type germanium and said n-type germanium; a p + contact disposed along the outer surface of said p-type region; and an n + contact disposed along the inner surface of said n-type region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
A germanium radiation detector comprising: a hollow cylindrical region of n-type germanium; a cylindrical region of p-type germanium disposed around and coaxial with said region of n-type germanium whereby a p-n junction is formed between said p-type germanium and said n-type germanium; a p + contact disposed along the outer surface of said p-type region; and an n + contact disposed along the inner surface of said n-type region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The detector of claim 9 wherein the radius of said junction is approximately 70 percent of the outside radius of said region of p-type germanium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The detector of claim 9 wherein the number of excess acceptor impurities in said region of said p-type germanium is approximately equal to the number of excess donor impurities in said region of said n-type germanium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The detector of claim 9 wherein said n-type germanium comprises germanium containing diffused lithium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The detector of claim 12 wherein said n + contact comprises germanium doped with lithium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The detector of claim 9 wherein the net concentration of activator impurities at points within said body is a smooth, monotonic function of the radius of said points.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
131 words
A germanium radiation detector comprising: a first hollow cylindrical region of germanium of a first conductivity type; a second cylindrical region of germanium of a second conductivity type disposed around and coaxial with said first region whereby a p-n junction is formed between said first region and said second region; contact means disposed on the inner surface of said first region and on the outer surface of said second region which function to apply a reverse electric field in said regions and to deplete charge carriers from the volume of said regions adjoining said junction; and impurity atom means disposed in said regions which function to shape said electric field to a maximum value in the vicinity of said junction and to lesser values in the vicinity of said contact means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
131 words
A germanium radiation detector comprising: a first hollow cylindrical region of germanium of a first conductivity type; a second cylindrical region of germanium of a second conductivity type disposed around and coaxial with said first region whereby a p-n junction is formed between said first region and said second region; contact means disposed on the inner surface of said first region and on the outer surface of said second region which function to apply a reverse electric field in said regions and to deplete charge carriers from the volume of said regions adjoining said junction; and impurity atom means disposed in said regions which function to shape said electric field to a maximum value in the vicinity of said junction and to lesser values in the vicinity of said contact means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The detector of claim 15 wherein said first region is p-type and said second region is n-type.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The detector of claim 16 wherein said impurity atom means include donor and acceptor atoms disposed within said regions and wherein the net concentration of impurity atoms at points within said regions increases as a smooth monotonic function of the radius of said points.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The body of claim 17 wherein said donor atoms are lithium atoms.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-06-04 | 1982-12-04 | 1983-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-06-04 | 1986-12-04 | 1987-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-06-04 | 1990-12-04 | 1991-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |